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Here are some great driving tours in the Mohawk Trail region. Print out this page or download our Official Visitors' Guide to the Mohawk Trail Region and take it with you! |
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Map for Tours 3, 4 and 5 (Tour 3, follow the orange line - Tour 4, follow the blue line - Tour 5, follow the magenta line) |
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TOUR 3 - Mt. Greylock / North Berkshire - Approximately 33 miles This scenic tour of northern Berkshire County is on the western edge of the Mohawk Trail and starts in the city of North Adams at City Hall, Route 8 and Marshall Street. First visit the vast mill complex on Marshall Street, MASS MoCA. MASS MoCA is a major center for the arts and multicultural disciplines featuring performances, educational resources and contemporary art exhibits. Just south of City Hall on Route 8 and Furnace Street is the Western Gateway Heritage State Park. This park is located in the old freight yard district. It is part of a statewide system of urban parks. Nineteenth century structures have been renovated to house exhibits, shops, and restaurants. The Visitors Center highlights the rich railroad and industrial heritage of North Adams and the building of the Hoosac Tunnel. Exit from Western Gateway Heritage State Park onto Route 2 and taking a left, travel west to Notch Road. A sign shows the entrance to Mt. Greylock State Reservation. The reservation is open May through October. It is the highest peak in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. Along the many switchbacks are lookout points that allow the traveler excellent views of Berkshire vistas. At the summit, there is the 90 foot high granite War Memorial Tower, a commemoration to all Massachusetts' war dead. On a clear day from the tower's observation platform, you can see Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire, the Green Mountains in Vermont, the Adirondacks and Catskills in New York, and Mt. Everett in the southern Berkshires. Bascom Lodge, at the summit, has food and lodging. Guided hikes, walks, and nature tours are available through the Nature's Classroom. Take a southerly route, descending into the town of Lanesborough on Route 7. Turn east on Summer Street in Lanesborough and continue to the village of Berkshire on Route 8. Then take Route 8 north along Cheshire Lake with its scenic overlook. Arriving in Adams, a Victorian textile mill town, visit the historic Quaker Meeting House, taking a left from Route 8 onto Maple Street to the cemetery. Returning to Route 8 see the plaque on Park Street on the Greylock Credit Union Building which honors Susan B. Anthony, who was born in Adams in 1820. Continue north to North Adams, follow signs on Route 8 to Natural Bridge State Park. This white marble formation is over 500 million years old. A30 foot marble bridge spans a 60 foot deep chasm. Unusual flora and fauna are found in this park which is open June to November. Next to the Natural Bridge State Park is The Contemporary Artists Center and Gallery, offering a unique environment for the creation of contemporary art and its exhibition. The Gallery has summer exhibitions only. Retrace your steps into the city of North Adams. The Fall Foliage Festival is held the last weekend in September through the first weekend in October. La Festa, celebrates the 4th of July with a Fireworks Extravaganza at 9:30pm at Noel Field Rt. 8, North Adams. Downtown North Adams has a unique Main Street, boasting five churches clustered on the eastern end.
TOUR 4 - North Berkshire / Mohawk Trail - Approximately 53 miles This scenic tour brings you north on Route 7 to The Mohawk Trail. Starting in Pittsfield, take Route 7 to Lanesborogh, the birth place of humorist, Josh Billings, who is buried in the village cemetery. Continue north on Route 7 to South Williamstown, HISTORIC FIVE CORNERS. Here several walking tours to historic houses are available. Following Route 7 to Williamstown you are now on Route 2, The Mohawk Trail, between Williamstown and Greenfield. Starting in Williamstown, which is the home of Williams College, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and Williams College Museum of Art, this "village beautiful" deserves a tour of its own. Enjoy its many fine shops, craft galleries, and eateries. Continue on Route 2, east to the City of North Adams, where you can visit the Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, MASS MoCA, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, La Festa, and the NorthAdams Fall Foliage Festival. Ascend the Hoosac Mountain Range to the HairpinTurn with its vistas of Mt. Greylock, the Green Mountains and the Hoosac Valley. The trail then rises sharply to the Western Summit (called Spirit Mountain by Native Americans). Travel through the scenic town of Florida to the Whitcomb Summit, home of the Elk Memorial on the highest point of the Mohawk Trail at 2,200 feet. One quarter mile past the summit, Whitcomb Hill Road leads to the eastern portal of the Hoosac Tunnel. Follow this road back down to the Deerfield River. Take a left on River Road until it crosses the railroad tracks. Look here for the eastern portal of the Hoosac Tunnel engineered and completed in the 1873 by blasting through five miles of sheer granite. Continue left on River Road to Bear Swamp Project and Visitor's Center which has picnic facilities. Retrace River Road and cross the iron bridge over the Deerfield River until the junction of Route 2 at the Indian Bridge. Take a right and after a short distance view the famous "Hail to the Sunrise" Statue, a memorial to the Mohawk Native Americans, sponsored by The Improved Order of the Redman. Continue easterly on Route 2 to Charlemont. Mohawk Trail Concerts are held all summer long at the acoustically perfect Charlemont Federated Church. Route 8A North hosts the 160 foot long Bissell Covered Bridge just 600 feet off Route 2. Continue easterly to Shelburne Falls, home of the Bridge of Flowers, an old arched trolley bridge transformed into a garden of flowers from spring to fall. Follow signs to Salmon Falls and view the Glacial Potholes located below Salmon Falls and carved out of rock during the Ice Age. Visit the museum located in the Arms Academy Building. Rejoin Route 2 and proceed to Greenfield, incorporated in 1753. At the time, Greenfield was considered the northernmost frontier before the Canadian border. Visit the Poet's Seat Tower, off High Street on Greenfield Mountain. Watch for signs. There is a superb view of the Greenfield Valley from here. Return to Main Street. This entire Mohawk Trail tour exposes you to numerous state parks and forests with swimming, picnicking and camping, hotels, motels, gift shops, restaurants, maple sugar houses and apple orchards. There are signs for scenic and historic attractions all along the way. For more information and calendars of events, tourist info booths are located on Route 2 in Williamstown, North Adams, Shelburne Falls, and Greenfield.
TOUR 5 - Mohawk Trail / Pioneer Valley - Approximately 55 miles This tour at the eastern part of the Mohawk Trail begins in Greenfield. Watch an early sunrise from the Poet's Seat Tower by driving east on Main Street to High Street, then follow the signs to the Tower. Return to Main Street, Route 2A, go west and turn left on Route 5 which takes you through the meadowlands of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers, site of the Deerfield Massacre in 1704. Visit Historic Deerfield, a museum village complex of 13 historic houses devoted to the study of the history of Deerfield; the culture of the Connecticut River Valley, and the arts in early American life. There are guided tours of the historic houses and the 300 year old village street (admission fee for museum houses). Stop at Memorial Hall Museum on Routes 5 and 10 where memorabilia of the 1600's to 1800's from both settlers and Native Americans is exhibited. Follow Route 5 to South Deerfield, turn left on Route 116 and follow the signs for Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation. The observation tower gives an excellent view of the Connecticut River Valley. Return to Route 116, go east to Route 47 to Route 63, north to the Fish Hatchery and Salmon Ladder near Montague. Continue north to Northfield Mt. Recreation & Environmental Center. Enjoy a 1 1/2 hour interpretive riverboat cruise on the Connecticut River or hike along the twenty five mile trail system, tour the mountain top reservoir and the underground power station. Picnic areas are available at the Center, along the river across from the Visitors Center, and at Unity Park near Turners Falls Dam and seasonal fishladder. Return on Route 63 to Route 2, the Mohawk Trail; make a right turn going west. Stop at scenic French King Bridge which is 750 feet long, 140 feet above the waters of the Connecticut River. There is an excellent view of King Philip's Rock, allegedly the site of the first planting of the French flag on American soil. Continue west on Route 2 to Turners Falls, home of The Shea Theater, a restored vaudeville theater offering music and theater events year round. From the bridge enjoy a view of the falls and the fish as they make their upstream journey (visible only in April, May and early June). Continue west on Route 2, turn south on Route 2A on French King Highway where the road will take you into Greenfield, back to the starting point. Commemorative plaques of historic events are located all along this tour. Parks and lakes are identified for rest or recreational use |
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